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Friday, March 30, 2007

Street Lamp

I love the old Paris street lamps. They give this special 19th century flavor to the city that makes it so romantic. I took this photo on the rue de Rivoli where they installed the first street lamps back in 1830 or so. At that time, of course, they were gas powered and every night a guy (un allumeur de réverbères) would have to "turn them on". Now, and since the 1920s, Paris street lamps are electric and nowadays you can count 82 000 of them (good thing nobody has to light them one by one anymore!!)

77 comments:

They are indeed beautiful, Eric but more than that, your photo is superb! The man walking past is essential to it. Bearing in mind the vantage point of the zebra crossing the other day, i feel this must be your office window and you spend the whole lunch hour hanging out of it with your trusty camera. Am i right? Above and beyond the call of duty, Lord Eric; i'm so impressed.

The perspective on this shot is really cool - well done, Eric! I especially like it on the maximized version, as you can really see the detail on the lamp, the grit of the street, and the tiny people who are across the street!

Ok Eric I'm not gonna ask where were you when you took this picture. I know it's not the same place you where the other day with the red umbrella photo, but you told me to be patient, so I WILL!!! Whatever you say!

As I read your commentary on this photo, I had an old song go through my head."He made the night a little brighter, no matter where he'd go...The old lamplighter of long long ago. Pretty little ditty and although I remember the melody, I can't think of the rest of the words. Lovely old lamps, aren't they?

Johnny, your post intrigued me. If you go onto www.wikipedia.org and type in "the old lamplighter of long long ago" it will give you not only the lyrics, but a little background of the group. I would have made a link, but alas I don't know how (I just e-mailed Lynn to please teach me as well :-))

Did they convert the entire town to electrics in the 20's or was it more of a progressive thing, like over the next decades? I'm asking because I remember a conversation with my mother about there still being "allumeurs de reverberes" in certain parts of Paris up to the late 50's / early 60's, and specifically in the lower parts of Champs Elysees.

The Old Lamplighter was a major country-pop hit for The Browns. The single was released in March of 1960, and went on to become a major top-ten hit on both the US country and pop singles charts. It was first recorded by Kay Kyser in 1946. The song was written by Charles Tobias ("Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days Of Summer", "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)") and Nat Simon in 1946.

He made the night a little brighter Wherever he would go The old lamplighter Of long, long ago His snowy hair was so much whiter Beneath the candle glow The old lamplighter Of long, long ago

You'd hear the patter of his feet As he came toddling down the street His smile would cheer a lonely heart you see If there were sweethearts in the park He'd pass a lamp and leave it dark Remembering the days that used to be For he recalls when things were new He loved someone who loved him too Who walks with him alone in memories

By the way, if anyone sees Lynn out there in Blogland, tell her to come back from the digital clouds. I helped her sign into the forum and I haven't heard from her since. Maybe she's lost somewhere, digitized into the 01010101010-world.

Superfly sells me something, made me come out of my shell.Now I don't even have to tell you, you already know.Any map in any station, pick a line and go !

You've always got the street lights,Shining on your hard times,Don't it make your shoes shine,Starin at the street lights.

Hey street lights wont you save me?Bringing down aircraft with your eyes don't amaze me.The former number one contenderSquealing on a spike,You keep screaming no surrender, go and ride your bike.

You've always got the street lights,Shining on your hard times,When the top one hundred earner's coffins have been nailed.When you stop the lovely sisters opening your mail,And when the reason you're drinking isn't solely to get wrecked.It'll be hard times for somethingwouldn't hold my breath.

You've always got the street lights,Shining on your hard times,Don't it make your shoes shine,Starin at the street lights.

NOTE for Michael: I didn't get your email. I checked my address under my profile info. and it's accurate--check it out, please! Sorry for the intrusion into your space, Eric, but important things need to be done. ***Michael, why don't you blog; I'd love to see your work -- you're both witty, charming (and good-looking, acc. to your photo), and you need to grace us with your photographic presence! Perhaps I've missed something--do you have a photo blog??

The sacred: Susan in Atl: Tho I am not French, I am following the elections, and will comment on it from my perspective. I think in some aspects,like emphasizing national identity,it becomes a code word to exclude the foreigners. There was a good article in the New York Times Op Ed section on March 23 about the elections. I have the paper delivered, and don't know how to find the article for you nor send it out electronically. Hopefully you can find it .My guess is that it will be a runoff between Sarkozy and.....BAYROU! Let's see! Any thoughts, Tomate? Terra-vecchia? Susan? Michael--you are living there! Help us.

And now to the profane. JohnnyParsons: me, Tarzan, aussi. Je souhaite that I could speak better and finish this sentance in the subjunctive.

Alright guys, come up with a list of some of the biggest tech questions the PDP readers have and I'll make a quick little instructional page. Eric can throw a link to it over on the sidebar and every time someone wonders how to make a link or something they can just go and learn real quick. Once I have a list of the common questions I can throw a simple page together in 10 minutes.

Well i've jet-propelled myself into the Forum ether, yes that's where i've been albeit briefly to see which button does what etc., i've lived to tell the tale too! I know. YOu're all amazed. I thank you.

Kate, does your email address have a "%" sign in it? It seems strange and I think this is why it's not working. If it doesn't, maybe you have an accent or something in your email address?? Maybe Lynn with her newly found skills can lend a hand?

I love PDP'ers - you guys ROCK! Thank you Michael & Susan for teaching me how to link - it looks pretty easy, (famous last words) so we'll see...

Soosha - thanks for the offer of help to those of us who are computer challenged (moi, for sure - seriously). Now don't everyone laugh, but I don't even know how to post my photo like the rest of you do (I have tried for countless hours...)

And Philly, re: the open toed shoes, I say bring 'em on! You never know. While it's usually still pretty cold that time of year, every once in a while you might get a reasonably warm day (I had a pretty warm day -70's & sunny - in early May of 2005.

Don't worry about it pont. Sometimes the problem with the photos on your profile is bloggers fault, not yours. I think I remember lynn having a terrible time with it because blogger was just being stupid!

OhmygodMichael, that text link scared me. What the heck was all that? I'm sticking to words. Pont girl, I'm CLUELESS as to adding a pix, too. I'm going to ask my husband to help, that is, if I can get his thoughts away from Lynn. No French politic talk today?

Eric, I have a question for you. I'm wanting to add a picture of my sister and her husband with a little "support our troops" ribbon to the sidebar of my blog. I've tried to add a picture there before but have been unsuccessful. I figured since you've got a ton of stuff in your sidebar you could probably tell me how to do it in the html editing section! Think you could help? Or perhaps anyone who knows could!

Well, I have many photos of the lovely Parisian streetlamps as I'm sure every visitor to Paris must have. This one is a particularly interesting angle though!

I researched streetlamps in San Francisco and found we had over 43,000! Of course Paris has us beat, but I couldn't climb up to light even one!

Grrrr...I'm trying to add a link but I keep on getting "Your HTML cannot be accepted: Tag is not allowed:" Thanks Lynn and Michael!!! One day I'll be able to add a link....Oh NO...PDP will become the PDP/html Tech Class!! LOL!!

Goodness, looks like i've started something with the techie probs! PC Doc Michael to the rescue. Thank GOD i'm not the only one. Paranoia was beginning to set in. I've sent you an email kpgallant enclosing my newfound knowledge. lol . Imagine.... !

Regarding open toe shoes: I'll just tell you my experience...I wore open toe shoes (nice shoes with a two inch heel) in mid-May and every woman I passed stared at my feet. Now it could be that they liked my shoes (you know how some women seem to glare at you if they like what you are wearing). Or, they thought it was odd to be wearing them (they all were still dressing as if it were winter). I'm not sure what the temp was b/c I was staying in a hotel that time and there was no "weather channel" but it felt like it was low 60's (F). Definitely warm enough for the shoes.

So...just be prepared for stares.

Phx, I know! No one wants to tell us what the French are thinking regarding the upcoming election. Odd. Tomate said once that they love to talk politics.

Since we only have a very peripheral view, it would be nice to know what the average citizen thinks.

I have decided NOT TO buy the comfy Mephisto sandals (the style did not suit me, and I was talking myself into them because they were somewhat stylish and COMFORTABLE) you have save me $$$. I will wear my WHITE sneakers and hope I don't step in any dog poop.

Philly, you will really get stares if you wear white sneakers (tennis shoes as we say in the south)!

Wear boots. Stylish, comfortable (at least I think so but I'm a heel girl) and you'll fit in! I wore nothing but black boots when I was there in Feb...and I did a lot of walking! Just don't wear boots with narrow heels (cobblestones). Do you have any from a year or two ago when high heels were a little wider? They are really comfortable for walking. Why am I still on here? Such a procrastinator! I have to be gone in ten minutes and my hair is still wet! Yikes!

I have heard not to wear white, but I don't like the black on me, I think of the nuns.....I just bought my second pair of MBT's the first were sent out to be resoled. I wear white jeans and the white sport shoes to work each day, I don't have use for black and there is the cost. Back to the drawing board. LOL

Philly I still think the sneakers are the best for walking all day long. Last year I put in my luggage a pair of black open toe heels but I couldn't use it cause my feet hurt after all the walking, even with sneakers. I know exactly how you feel trying to find the perfect shoe for your trip, only a woman goes through something like that!!!

Susan, another thing only happens to a woman: just like you I have been late so many times for still being here reading the comments with my hair still wet!

I think you are right! I am up and down and all around during the day at work and my feet are fine, dress me up and my time is limited. Like Oprah says about some of her shoes; "these are 10 minute shoes"

As I stared at the street lamp photo again, I heard Marlene Dietrich singing "Lilli Marlene". I could see her in the traditional prostitute's outfit...beret, tight black skirt, 6 inch spikes, etc. as she sang that very moving ditty.

Check out Wikipedia.org...."Lili Marlene. Fabulous bit of history:"Lili Marleen" is a famous German song which ironically became very popular on both sides during World War II.

The words were written in 1915 during World War I by Hans Leip (1893-1983), a school teacher from Hamburg who had been conscripted into the Imperial German Army. Leip reportedly combined the names of his girlfriend and another female friend. The poem was later published as "Das Lied eines jungen Soldaten auf der Wacht" ("The Song of a Young Soldier on Watch"). It was set to music by Norbert Schultze in 1938. Tommy Connor later wrote English lyrics.

The song was originally titled "Das Mädchen unter der Laterne" (German for "the girl under the lantern"), but it became famous as "Lili Marleen".

Recordings by Lale Andersen in 1939 and Marlene Dietrich helped to raise the song's profile. It achieved popularity despite the opposition of the Nazi regime, in particular Joseph Goebbels, the Nazis' propaganda secretary.